Patent CA-2913810-A1 (CA)
Title: Fluid filled lenses and mechanisms of inflation thereof
Inventor: SENATORE DANIEL
IPC: G02C7/08
Filed: 2010-10-15
Abstract: An actuator for a fluid-filled lens including a housing having a first and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing. In an embodiment, a slider is slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir. In an embodiment, the actuator further includes a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir. Sliding the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. In an embodiment, the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir. Sliding of the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir.   An actuator for a fluid-filled lens including a housing having a first and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing. In an embodiment, a slider is slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir. In an embodiment, the actuator further includes a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir. Sliding the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. In an embodiment, the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir. Sliding of the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir.     The undersigned inventors agree to execute all papers necessary in connection with the application(s) and any non-provisional, continuing (continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part), reissue, reexamination or corresponding application(s) thereof and also to execute separate assignments in connection with such application(s) as the Assignee may deem necessary or expedient. The undersigned inventors agree to execute all papers necessary in connection with any interference or patent enforcement action (judicial or otherwise) related to the application(s) or any non-provisional, continuing (continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part), reissue or reexamination application(s) thereof and to cooperate with the Assignee in every way possible in obtaining evidence and going forward with such interference or patent enforcement action. The undersigned inventors hereby represent that he/she has full right to convey the entire interest herein assigned, and that he/she has not executed, and will not execute, any agreement in conflict therewith. The undersigned inventors hereby grant the patent practitioners associated with CUSTOMER NUMBER 26111 the power to insert in this assignment any further identification that may be necessary or desirable in order to comply with the rules of the United States Patent and Trademark Office for recordation of this document. The undersigned inventors hereby represent that he/she understands that the patent practitioners associated with CUSTOMER NUMBER 26111 are the legal representatives of, and attorneys for, the assignee, and are NOT the legal representatives of, and attorneys for, the inventors. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, executed by the undersigned inventors on the date opposite his/her name.    ASSIGNMENT In consideration of the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) or equivalent and other good and valuable consideration paid to each of the undersigned inventors: Daniel SENATORE, Matthew Wallace PETERSON, Jonathan DOWNING, Amitava GUPTA, William EGAN, Lisa NIBAUER, Frank STANGOTA, Bruce DECKER, Thomas M. MCGUIRE, Urban SCHNELL, Karim HAROUD and Pascal LOSER, hereby sell and assign to Adlens Beacon, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, whose mailing address is 33 Wood Avenue South, Suite 600, Iselin, Ncw Jersey 08830 (hereafter referred to as the Assignee), his/her entire right, title and interest, including the right to sue for past infringement and to collect for all past, present and future damages, for the United States of America (as defined in 35 U.S.C.   100) and throughout the world, (a) in the invention(s) known as Fluid Filled Lenses and Mechanisms of Inflation Thereof for which application(s) for patent in the United States _of America has a filing date or a 371(c) date of __  (also known as United States Application No.13.1000  which is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/US2010/052902, International Filing Date October 15, 2010), in any and all applications thereon, in any and all Letters Patent(s) therefor, and (b) in any and all applications that claim the benefit of the patent application listed above in part (a), including non-provisional applications, continuing (continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part) applications, reissues, extensions, renewals and reexaminations of the patent application or Letters Patent therefor listed above in part (a), to the full extent of the term or terms for which Letters Patents issue, and (c) in any and all inventions described in the patent application listed above in part (a), and in any and all forms of intellectual and industrial property protection derivable from such patent application, and that are derivable from any and all continuing applications, reissues, extensions, renewals and reexaminations of such patent application, including, without limitation, patents, applications, utility models, inventor's certificates, and designs together with the right to file applications therefor; and including the right to claim the same priority rights from any previously filed applications under the International Agreement for the Protection of Industrial Property, or any other international agreement, or the domestic laws of the country in which any such application is filed, as may be applicable; all such rights, title and interest to be held and enjoyed by the above-named Assignee, its successors, legal representatives and assigns to the same extent as all such rights, title and interest would have been held and enjoyed by the Assignor had this assignment and sale not been made.   The undersigned inventors agree to execute all papers necessary in connection with the application(s) and any non-provisional, continuing (continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part), reissue, reexamination or corresponding application(s) thereof and also to execute separate assignments in connection with such application(s) as the Assignee may deem necessary or expedient. The undersigned inventors agree to execute all papers necessary in connection with any interference or patent enforcement action (judicial or otherwise) related to the application(s) or any non-provisional, continuing (continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part), reissue or reexamination application(s) thereof and to cooperate with the Assignee in every way possible in obtaining evidence and going forward with such interference or patent enforcement action. The undersigned inventors hereby represent that he/she has fall right to convey the entire interest herein assigned, and that he/she has not executed, and will not execute, any agreement in conflict therewith. The undersigned inventors hereby grant the patent practitioners associated with CUSTOMER NUMBER 26111 the power to insert in this assignment any further identification that may be necessary or desirable in order to comply with the rules of the United States Patent and Trademark Office for recordation of this document. The undersigned inventors hereby represent that he/she understands that the patent practitioners associated with CUSTOMER NUMBER 26111 are the legal representatives of, and attorneys for, the assignee, and are NOT the legal representatives of, and attorneys for, the inventors. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, executed by the undersigned inventors on the date opposite his/her name.    FLUID FILLED LENSES AND MECHANISMS OF INFLATION THEREOF CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/251,819, filed October 15, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Field [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to fluid-filled lenses and in particular to variable fluid-filled lenses. Background Art [0003]    Basic fluid lenses have been known since about 1958, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,101, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. More recent examples may be found in "Dynamically Reconfigurable Fluid Core Fluid Cladding Lens in a Microfluidic Channel" by Tang et al., Lab Chip, 2008, vol. 8, p. 395, and in WIPO  publication WO2008/063442, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. These applications of fluid lenses are directed towards photonics, digital phone and camera technology and microelectronics. [0004]    Fluid lenses have also been proposed for ophthalmic applications (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 7,085,065, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). In all cases, the advantages of fluid lenses, such as a wide dynamic range, ability to provide adaptive correction, robustness, and low cost have to be balanced against limitations in aperture size, possibility of leakage, and consistency in performance. The '065 patent, for example, has disclosed several improvements and embodiments directed towards effective containment of the fluid in the fluid lens to be used in ophthalmic applications, although not limited to them (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 6,618,208, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety). Power adjustment in fluid lenses has been effected by injecting additional fluid into a lens cavity, by electrowetting, application of ultrasonic impulse, and by utilizing swelling forces in a cross-linked polymer upon introduction of a swelling agent such as water. BRIEF SUMMARY [0005]     In an embodiment, an actuator for a fluid-filled lens comprises: a housing; a reservoir disposed within the housing; a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir; and wherein the compression arm flexes to compress the reservoir. [0006]     In another embodiment, an actuator for a fluid-filled lens comprises: a housing having a first end and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing;  and a slider slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir, wherein the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir, and wherein sliding of the slider from the second end of the housing to the first end of the housing causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir. [0007]     Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES [0008]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and foun a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. [0009]     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly.     [0010]    FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly. [0011]    FIG. 3 illustrates a first set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a slider subassembly. [0012]    FIG. 4 illustrates a second set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a slider subassembly. [0013]    FIG. 5 illustrates a set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a temple cover subassembly. [0014]    FIG. 6 illustrates a set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a compression arm subassembly. [0015]    FIG. 7 illustrates a first set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a temple chassis subassembly. [0016]    FIG. 8 illustrates a second set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a temple chassis subassembly. [0017]    FIG. 9 illustrates a set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a temple subassembly. [0018]    FIG. 10 illustrates a set of steps for assembling an embodiment of a lens module subassembly. [0019]    FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly.      [0020]    FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly. [0021]    FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly. [0022]    FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly with a portion of the temple cover removed. [0023]    FIG. 15 illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly. [0024]    FIG. 16 shows charts with data corresponding to breadboard actuator performance for an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly. [0025]    FIG. 17a illustrates an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly. [0026]    FIG. 17b illustrates an embodiment of a caliper actuator assembly. [0027]    FIG. 18 shows charts with data corresponding to breadboard actuator performance for embodiments of a caliper actuator assembly.     [0028]     FIG. 19a illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a roll and translate actuator assembly. [0029]     FIG. 19b illustrates a top view of the roll and translate actuator assembly of FIG. 19a. [0030]     FIG. 19c illustrates a side view of the roll and translate actuator assembly of FIG. 19a when compressed. [0031]     FIG. 20a illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a roll and translate actuator assembly. [0032]     FIG. 20b illustrates a top view of the roll and translate actuator assembly of FIG. 20a. [0033]     FIG. 20c illustrates a side view of the roll and translate actuator assembly of FIG. 20a when compressed. [0034]     FIG. 21a illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of a reservoir. [0035]     FIG. 21b illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a reservoir. [0036]     FIG. 21c illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a reservoir when compressed. [0037]     FIG. 22a illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a rack and pinion actuator assembly. [0038]     FIG. 22b illustrates a side view of the rack and pinion actuator assembly of FIG. 22a when compressed. [0039]     FIG. 23a illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a rack and pinion actuator assembly. [0040]     FIG. 23b illustrates a top view of the rack and pinion actuator assembly of FIG. 23a. [0041]     FIG. 22c illustrates a side view of the rack and pinion actuator assembly of FIG. 23a when compressed. [0042]     FIG. 24 illustrates a front perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a rack and pinion actuator assembly. [0043]    FIG. 25 shows an embodiment of a rack and pinion actuator assembly. [0044]     FIG. 26 illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a rack and pinion actuator assembly. [0045]     FIG. 27a illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a screw actuator assembly.     [0046]     FIG. 27b illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a screw actuator assembly when compressed. [0047]     FIG. 28a illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a rotation actuator assembly when partially compressed. [0048]     FIG. 28b illustrates a view of an embodiment of the rotation actuator assembly of FIG. 28a along line A. [0049]     FIG. 29a illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a slide and translate actuator assembly. [0050]     FIG. 29b illustrates a front sectional view of an embodiment of a slide and translate actuator assembly. [0051]     Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0052]     Although specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the pertinent art that this invention can also be employed in a variety of other applications. [0053]     It is noted that references in the specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.  Moreover, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. [0054]     Fluid lenses have important advantages over conventional means of vision correction, such as rigid lenses and contact lenses. First, fluid lenses are easily adjustable.  Thus, a presbyope who requires an additional positive power correction to view near We claim:   1. An actuator for a sealed fluid-filled lens comprising: a housing; a reservoir disposed within the housing; and a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir, and wherein said compression arm flexes to compress the reservoir. 2. The actuator of claim 1, further comprising: a slider slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the compression arm, wherein sliding the slider from the first end of the compression arm to the second end of the compression aim causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. 3. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a temple chassis and temple cover. 4. The actuator of claim 2, further comprising a wheel attached to the slider. 5. The actuator of claim 4, wherein the wheel is rotatably attached to the slider and wherein rotation of the wheel causes the slider to slide. 6. The actuator of claim 4, wherein translation of the wheel causes the slider to slide. 7. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the compression arm compresses the reservoir against a vertical surface of the housing. 8. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the compression arm compresses the reservoir against a horizontal surface of the housing.     9. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the first end of the compression arm is distal to a fluid lens attached to the actuator. 10. An actuator for a fluid-filled lens comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing; and a slider slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir, wherein the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir, and wherein sliding of the slider from the second end of the housing to the first end of the housing causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir. 11. The actuator of claim 10, further comprising a wheel attached to the slider. 12. The actuator of claim 11, wherein the wheel is rotatably attached to the slider and wherein rotation of the wheel causes the slider to slide. 13. The actuator of claim 11, wherein translation of the wheel causes the slider to slide. 14. The actuator of claim 10, wherein the slider compresses the reservoir against a vertical surface of the housing. 15. The actuator of claim 10, wherein the slider compresses the reservoir against a horizontal surface of the housing. 16. The actuator of claim 10, further comprising: a pinion; and a rack connected to the slider, wherein rotation of the pinion causes teeth on the pinion to engage with and push teeth of the rack so as to move the slider.     17. The actuator of claim 10, further comprising: a screw having an axis of rotation collinear with a line formed between the first and second ends of the housing; and a rack connected to the slider, wherein rotation of the screw causes teeth on the screw to engage with and push teeth of the rack so as to move the slide. 18. The actuator of claim 10, further comprising a pulley arrangement to slide the slider.     We claim: 1. An actuator for a sealed fluid-filled lens comprising: a housing; a reservoir disposed within the housing; a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir, and wherein said compression arm flexes to compress the reservoir; and a slider slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the compression arm, wherein sliding the slider from the first end of the compression arm to the second end of the compression arm causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. 2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a temple chassis and temple cover. 3. The actuator of claim 1, further comprising a wheel attached to the slider. 4. The actuator of claim 3, wherein the wheel is rotatably attached to the slider and wherein rotation of the wheel causes the slider to slide. 5. The actuator of claim 3, wherein translation of the wheel causes the slider to slide. 6. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the first end of the compression arm is distal to a fluid lens attached to the actuator. 7. An actuator for a sealed fluid-filled lens comprising: a housing; a reservoir disposed within the housing; and a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir, wherein said compression arm flexes to compress the reservoir, wherein the compression arm compresses the reservoir against a vertical surface of the housing, and wherein the compression arm compresses the reservoir against a horizontal surface of the housing.       An actuator for a fluid-filled lens including a housing having a first and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing. In an embodiment, a slider is slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir. In an embodiment, the actuator further includes a compression ann having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir. Sliding the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. In an embodiment, the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir. Sliding of the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir.